Breaking News: Government forces planning offensive against SPLA IO cantonment Site in Mundri.

16 March 2016. Mundi
The Governor of Amadi State has this morning demanded the commander of SPLA Juba in Mundri Barracks to issue an order to despatched three trucks full of SPLA Juba military from Mundri towards Bari to fight the SPLA\M IO forces in their assemble area and to proceed to Medewu, Ladingwa and up to Bangolo. He intends to have a permanent military deployment at Bari and areas far beyond Medewu.

These are very unfortunate situation as it indicates that he is perusing war instead of focusing on the implementation of the signed peace agreement.

These action will cause more humanitarian suffering on the civilian population in these areas we believed.

We therefore argue the JMEC and the CTSAMM to take note of these planned violation and advice the governor
to stop all military activities in Greater Mundri Counties and focus on the implementation of the signed peace agreement.

We equal request the JMEC to remind the Amadi State Governor that SPLA\M IO Forces in all parts of Greater Mundri Counties and entire Equatoria Region are already covered by the ceasefire and signed agreement as per article 2.2 of the compromise Agreement and therefore, any attempts to fight them is a violation of the ceasefire and signed peace agreement.

Secondly, he should be informed that the state is among the 28 States whose operations have been suspended by IGAD heads of States summit communique and therefore, he should wait until a decision is made on the operationalization of the 28 States by a committee to be formed when SPLA\M IO Leader enters Juba when the Government of National Unity is formed.

It’s unfortunate that civilians in these areas have suffered when the SPLA Juba fought in the cantonment sites of SPLA IO early last month which resulted into cases like houses burnt and properties looted and most of them remained displaced.

Therefore, these second operation by SPLA Juba forces on SPLA IO is going to result to more looting of civilian properties, burning of houses, killing of innocent civilians and more displacement, which will affect more women, children and elderly men and women as they will be forced to run to bush again and suffer just as they have started suffering. This is against international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflicts.

JMEC and the UN should note that the current operation will hinder delivery of humanitarian aid to the suffering population in those areas and the governor must be stopped his aggressive actions must be condemned in strongest terms possible.

Baya Kayidri
The official Reporter of SPLA IO Division 9# Sector 5# in
Western Equatoria State, South Sudan.